The Risks of (Anti-)Muslim Radicalism - Charlie Hebdo, Islamic Minorities and Political Violence in Central Europe
The Risks of (Anti-)Muslim Radicalism - Charlie Hebdo, Islamic Minorities and Political Violence in Central Europe

Author(s): Jan Daniel
Subject(s): Media studies, Islam studies, Studies in violence and power, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: muslims; islam; radicalism; minorities; Charlie Hebdo;
Summary/Abstract: Although the number of victims was low when compared to the attacks in Madrid in 2004 or in Utøya in 2011, the Paris attacks of January 7th – 9th 2015 had a tremendous symbolic impact that reached far beyond France. The Charlie Hebdo shootings and subsequent hostage crisis have renewed debates about the jihadi threat to Europe and how to fight it, but also about the position of Muslim minorities in Western societies and the relation of tolerance and freedom of speech. While most French and European politicians have been remarkably united and restrained and have been careful to blame the individuals in question rather than the Muslim community as a whole, anti-Muslim and anti-immigration parties and movements (e.g. FN in France and PEGIDA in Germany) have been quick to try and make political capital out of the attacks. Neither Muslim communities, nor anti-Islamic movements are as strong in Central Europe (CE)1 as in Western Europe (WE) and the responses of politicians and populations generally reflect this. However, focusing on security and failing to address potential divides between Muslim and non-Muslim communities politically, could have an inflammatory effect, which would make no one safer.

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